In The Money Telegraph
Sunday, July 5, 2026 · By ITM Staff
A holiday card for the ages at the Spa — and if you leaned on the favorites in the features, it was a long afternoon. Here’s how the Fourth played out.
The Fourth at the Spa: Chalk Takes a Beating
Belmont Derby (G1). A British invasion on America’s 250th. Title Role, shipping in for trainer Simon Crisford, held off a fast-closing West End Kid by a nose in a photo under John Velazquez, with 3-2 favorite Remember Mamba a non-threatening third. It was the first Grade 1 for the Too Darn Hot colt, already a winner in Germany and Dubai this year; he covered the mile and an eighth in 1:47.55 on firm turf and paid $16.68. Recap →
Belmont Oaks (G1). The upset of the day. Donnacha O’Brien’s Kensington Lane, a longshot making her first U.S. start, sprinted to a clear lead on the first turn under Joel Rosario and never looked back, holding on by 1¾ lengths over Faithful Departed and third-place Fitz Right. Favorite Abashiri poked ahead briefly on the backstretch but flattened out. Fittingly, a daughter of Starspangledbanner won on the Fourth of July. Recap →
Suburban (G2). No suspense this time. Phileas Fogg went straight to the front for Kendrick Carmouche and rolled home a 10-length winner, defending his title and running his Saratoga Suburban record to a perfect two-for-two. Hit Show got up for second and Tiztastic third; favored Antiquarian never recovered from a troubled break and settled for fourth. He paid $19.82. Recap →
Sanford (G3). The 2-year-olds got in on it too: Steve Asmussen’s Booked, a son of the fast Yaupon, bounced clear by six lengths under Ricardo Santana Jr. to stay perfect at two-for-two, with the Saratoga Special on Aug. 1 next.
Your ITM Tour Feeder
Friday’s Saratoga opening-day feeder was a smash — a Tour-record 229 entries, with 23 advancing to Saturday’s BCBC Qualifier. And four more players punched their tickets to the In the Money HorsePlayers Tour Playoffs. Congratulations to Joseph Rumfolo, Rogelio Garcia, Ernest Hey Jr, and Charles Weinschreider.
The Playoff field so far:
June 12 — Ryan Veiga, David Pyrz, Michael Arena, Brett Wiener
June 19 — Robert Egan, Conrad Hoetger, Daniel Edwards, Stephen McNatton
June 26 — Togo Travalia, Austin Cail, Phil Matzat, Kevin Engelhard
July 3 — Joseph Rumfolo, Rogelio Garcia, Ernest Hey Jr, Charles Weinschreider
Playing Today
Colonial Downs. Ryan Anderson of The Gallop Out and Chris Cupples serve up Sunday spot plays, tied to a TwinSpires tournament — the $200 Colonial Downs qualifier into the July 18 Haskell Handicapping Challenge at Monmouth. ▶ Watch on YouTube →
Los Alamitos. Dean Keppler’s Sunday selections out West, with Tight Dally (Race 5) his best bet. Read →
Start Your NHC Journey: LRF Cares Feeders
A cheap way to chase a big prize for a good cause: HorsePlayers.com runs low-cost ($14) Pick & Pray feeders into the LRF Cares Charity Challenge Qualifier — an on-ramp toward Little Red Feather’s July 18 LRF Cares contest at Del Mar, which benefits Thoroughbred aftercare and puts a path to the 2027 NHC in play. Fresh feeders post regularly, so check the board every day. Find the LRF Cares feeders on HorsePlayers.com →
ITM Plus
Nick’s Notebook Is Here for Saratoga
Churchill Downs morning-line maker Nick Tammaro brings his Saratoga notebook to ITM Plus — detailed written analysis and angles every day of the meet, alongside exclusive podcasts and premium selections right through to the Breeders’ Cup.
More all week at inthemoneypodcast.com, with daily previews on the ITM YouTube channel and premium tips on ITM Plus.
